Bowling pin removing apparatus



July 12, 1960 M. PATTERSON ETAI- BowLING PIN REMovING APPARATUS FiledJuly 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 July l2, 1960 M. PATTERSON ETAI` BOWLINGPIN REMovING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1955 INVENTORMOREHEAD PATTESON CHARLES E. SCHON Af @MW ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 .M,PATTERSON EVAL 2,944,819

BOWLING PIN REMOVING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR MOREHEAD FATTE SON CHARLES E. SCHON ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 M.PATTERSON ETAL 2,944,819

BOWLING PIN REMovING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 7, 1955 July12, 1960 Filed July 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 R m9 Y A@ n@ www. m NSO @9%n a www M MM.. %\1%J f :4B www, www: New im www www QA Saw (omg o im@ QN@N9 90M. Qmwm/ %RN @w w Sw v $3 w\^% QM QQ NN @RN Y w www www www w wwwwww al www www rmmw Q MN www i www www @uw WM@ o QAM NQS www .www www SNo QN www m @E NQ www July 12, 1960 M. PATTERSON ETAL BWLI'NG PINfar-:MOVING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July '7, 1955 INVENTOR SMOREHEAD PATTERSON SCHON CHARLES E.

ATTO NEY Y,agraria BOWLING PIN-.REMOYWG ArrARArUS MoreheadY Patterson,Newl York,v and 4Charles Scholl,

Westy Hempstead, N.Y.z xssgnors to American Ma- (chine-& FoundryCompany, a corporation ofY `New Jersey l l* Filed 'July f1, i955,vser.Liste..520,403 'y zo .Claims y rc1. 2913-4-43.)

inventionr relatesl to, tzowlingpin; spotting u chines, .and vmoreparticularly to improvementsginmmvechanism for removing fallen pins 'ordeadwood fromV a -bcnzvlunift-edsaftesPtenr* l Y 2,944,819iPstentedislnlyalM960 Y provedmechanismfortremoving deadwoodnorf,fallenpins obstruction to a.pointeofydischargeffrom 1 delivered ,to ithe-pit for v'.lurtber handllngfrmfvplayingxthe from the playing deck ofa bowling alley after aY allis rolled without the necessity of lifting standing'-;pns fprior .to the 4renfloval.of:fallen pins ftherefrom- Ityis` arfurther object ofztherinvention mieke-advantage of'the'spacelleft by .fallen -pins .in :th front portion of the pin supporting bedof a; lbowling.alley,Slwltthat Sllh fallen pins maybemovedwitha-minimurnpf-fetfortand th alleyibfedjlld game;

A ATheinvention'lisfalsoi;cbaractenizedbvntlle provision ,of meansfordamping rorgrmly fsecuringstandingaplns the rolling of, each` ball ofaf frame; except-fthe last-ball A .thereof,-,and the provision ofmeansffcr movingiany-ifallen ing alley orthe gutters thereofwithoutjdisturbing standf Zing `pins :which are, to vremain yon va bowlingalley;for

further play.

.i ,Ours invention is adapted `fortusegwitll automatic-bowl- @ing pinAspotting machines, *such forqexavmple 'asl shownin 'Rundell Patent2,388,707,;Frye Patent 2;7(l 7v,7(l7,` and any other type of bowlingvpinspotting, machine or installation with which it can be adapted Ifioruse.

In ,the game of' bowling,A `ten bowling pinspare usually spotted on thebed of. a bowlingfgalleyjn triangular arrangement with :the ,Y apex.Llof- ;the triangle ,1 nearest the ,-bowler. Because of,thisyarrangemennas the result of trolling. of a ball, the l*frontpinsor. lfront rodi/sofpins ,are

Amost likely to be knocked down.l

Our invention' :takes intougconsideration ,tbefactgtliat mechanismconveys them to the pin spotter for-:further .use-in playing the game. Yi

f InA accordance with the invention, wecprovide means i for ypositivelyengaging the heads' of s tandingupins-in order to `holdeach standinglpin ,in-the exactposition it occupiedafterlthe throwing-of` a ball,vandprovidemeans operative while-pins are -so `held ,fortmoving any-deadwoodV or, fallen vpins forwardly :away from such-standing -vpins withaeminimum lof eiort so-thatlthey befdis-y rplaced directly into theguttersA of vthe''bowlinggalley,as

the result of the movement of the pin removingmeansg or can bedeliveredinto the range loff,operation f. pin handling vdevices whichnrove; themfromy fthefalleyginto the'gutters where suitable means such as beltconveyors orpushers can travelg-theni .rearwardly intothe-zpit'yfor -vfurther useiin playingthegame, ,':After Lheurernoyal'f y deadwood orVfallen pins, the :mechanism which clamped or beldstanding. .pins on thealleyais:raiseditherelbovsov `that lthe playmf` .the game can'continuejjiaccording 1o normal procedure.`

'It is lan Vobject` of lour a bowling falley @after the f throwingV ofyaballr knocked over, and to :eect tbe'gpositivex-imov me vlof deadwoodor fallen 4pins in aY direction;awayrgmithepit u Aof a *bowling alley`suchthat there willbesubstantially noobstructon to the movement ofVsuclifalleiiipins Whereinvention to provide rneansforV l Y holding1.on-spot Vor fol'r'fspot zstanding'f-pinsremaingrion l galnstvrdis-f.r`VVplacementfrom `their respective positions org-ibeing 5 .fallen pins;or v the alley bed :forV ultimate delivery aiuto pins in va directionaway kfrom thepitfof the :a1ley,iY and clear of standing pins positivelyyheld.,or1, tl1'ealleyjnorler that a o f lobstruction`orsubstantially@,noiobstructioncan occur tof prevent thefreemovementnfesuch the pitand return tothe ,pin spotter.

In one form ofthe, invention-thereisgprorided azsystem comprising;spaced parallel; pushers thaving fresilient for n ileirible; piniengaging i and pushingfmenrbersawhich-imove v fallen pins ,forwardlybetween Y and pastlstanding `ping-fthe llatter :being clamped ontliegalley-by `suitablerlleanssengaging' the heads:4 thereof. We fbave;1 found', iithatwwith mechanism embodying our inventiom-all=; deadwoodor :fallen pins can befsepalated vfrom;standing '.,pins'rv andremovedfrom fthe. galley; andA :gutters k-or deliveryf finto the -pitvfor Vsubsequent re-ulse in-playingi-thegarne. f zv The s invention fis; Yalso characterized ibygthe provision of a modified forminwhich'allfstanding pinsexceptrhcse commonly designated 5,: 8 anderl9,1 are; clam-pednpon `111e Y v 'alley and, the provisionoflpositive'means foriliftingi pins numbers .5 8;, and .-9 oixany` of suchpinst-severallygtdependent upon whichremains standing aftertherolllngfof any ball but-the-llastball lof aframeso thatmorejspace isprovided for i Athe unobstructed. forwardemovement =.and more rapidoperation of" the pin ,removing on-,sweeping lmeans andvpins movedorswept thereby:intotitllefgutters of a bowling alley whence-they-areconveyedintoytheipit for ultimate ,returnzto the -pin `spotter forspotting om the ..;alley. O ur. lnventionis,alsoscharacterized by theprovisionfof `improved mechanism4 for clampingwstanding pinspn a bowlingalley afterethe first ballot afframeis -rolledand removing deadwood orfallen pins from between auch l clamped vstandingpins and alsoremovingtfallenfipins and any standing -pins aftertlleflastballfof azfraniejsrolled Y' whenit is desired. to ysport ai new set of vpinslonxtheplaying bed of a bowling alley preparatory ,toplayingfthecnext Y-`frame of the game.v f

1 tioned in :viewfthe lnv'enuonconsistsinfcertamgcombinationsandggconstructions which fwillybeixfully described1Withthese and otherfobjectss notspeciiicallygmenf hereinafter; fandthenV se`tfortln` iruthe'` claims, `hereunto'ap-A (llendedavk v It is afurther .object of our' invention to provid-aimA vv A YInVtheaccompanyingdrawings;whichforngajparthof this specification, and1 in:which :like -cliaracters ofereferenceindicatethesameorlikeparts: f; 1- tif Fig. lisrarsidegelevation olaV preferred form of'riour A Puig. sA'isgaside.,elevatori-.or,unmodifiedrofmiof@the j invention; Y A

L Fig.4is(a,plan-view,-takeneonzlineplflsof11?ig:.'3;

Fig, 5 is afsideelevationgofianotherimodied ffomicof structure.embodying .ourzinventom and Fig. 6 is aiplan view taken on line-L-Guot' 3 While reference has been made hereinabove to the use ofstructure embodying our inventionin connection with automatic bowlingpin spotting machines, it is to be understood that the invention is`also adapted for use with vbowling alleys where pins are spottedmanually by pin shown). In the case'of manual spotting of pins von alleyA, conveyor 95 would'not be used since the pin boy would stand in thepit P in order that he might be able to lean forward over alley A andspot the pins thereon.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a vertically reciprocatingpin clamping table designated generally 10 which is suspended abovealley bed A by suitable cables 12 running overland attached to suitableconventional drums (not shown). These drums are oscillatedintermittently and in proper timed relation from drive control mechanism(not shown) in order that table 10 may be moved to and from the alley asdesired in the course of playing the game. Table 10 is guided for up anddown movement by means of guide shoes 14 mounted on the sides thereof(Fig. 2) which engage and run insuitable vertical guide rails 16 mountedon kickbacks K of the bowling alley. v

Table 10 is provided with suitable bearing lugs 1S in which arejournaled the ends of two longitudinally spaced horizontal shafts 20 and22. Shaft 22 is connected by a conventional type coupling 24'(Fig. 2) todrive shaft 26 of a suitable gear reduction motor 2.8 mounted on the topof table 10.

Each shaft 20 and 22 carries a plurality of transversely spacedsprockets 30 aligned and so arranged that each sprocket 30 on driveshaft 22 can be connected by means of an endless chain 32 with acorresponding aligned sprocket 30 o n lidler shaft 20. As shown in Fig.l, all chains 32 are parallel with the length of alley A.

Each chain 32 has pivotally attached thereto a plurality ofequallyspaced lugs 34 arranged along a length of chain equal'to thedistance between idler shaft 20 and drive `shaft 22. In this way, whenall lugs 34 are on the lower run of each chain 32, no lugs 34 are on theupper run (see Fig.' 1),and ywhen all lugs 34 are on the upper `run ofeach chain 32, no lugs are on the lower run thereof. v

Each lug 34 supports a rod 36 having attached to the free end thereof aexible pusher 38, preferably made of rubber or similar resilientmaterial. Rods 36 also are preferably madeof a yieldable material, suchas spring steel or plastic, which permits a springing or bending whenencountering a stationary solid object such as a standing bowling pinclamped by table 10 on bowling alley A. Each lug V34 also is providedwith a pivotally mounted cam follower 40 such that whenV a lug 34 ismoving `along thelower run of a chain 32, cam follower 40 engages with astraight cam track 42 :formed by one flangeof a channel 44 mounted ontable 10 and also serving as a guide for each chain 32. A As'illustratedin Fig. 2, six pusher carrier chains are used. There are therefore sixlongitudinally extending channels spaced from each other and mounted inparallel arrangement on the bottom side of table 10. Each chain 32 ispro- 1 videdwith four pusher rods 36, although this number could lbevaried if desired.

The transverse relationship of each row of rods 36 on chains y32 is suchthat rods 36 while` being moved from the rear, or from 'the left, asViewed in Fig. 1, toward Aspot positions against movement.

the front of alley A by chains 32,'normally do not engage or touchstanding pins clamped on alley A, but merely pass between them. However,flexible pushers 38 attached to the free ends of each rod 36, extendlaterally outwardly therefrom (Fig. 2), and deflect or yield on contactwith standing clamped pins, and therefore pass such clamped pins withoutdifliculty.

The lower or bottom side of table 10 is preferably provided with strips46 of yieldable or resilient. material such as rubber, mounted betweenand adjacent channels 44. Strips 46 are used to hold each standing pinengaged thereby rmly on alley A when table 10 is in its lowermost or pinclamping position, shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. `When table 10is located in its upper or inoperative position during the time a playeris rolling a ball, cam followers 40 onlugs 34'run on caintracks 48secured to the upper portion of table 10, as shown in Fig. 1 Cam tracks48 maintain upper rods 36 substantially in the positions shown in dottedlines in Fig. .1.

Under some conditions of pin knockdown, the forward movement of Vpusherrods 36 in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1, is sufficient tocause fallen pins to be pushed or rolled into gutters G where by meansof conveyors 90, they are delivered into pit P. In orderA to insure thatall fallen pins will be moved into gutters G for ultimate delivery intopit P, or when after a second ball is rolled it is desired to sweepstanding pins from the alley, there is provided an auxiliary conveyingmechanism located at the `front of table 10, or'at the right as viewedin Fig.` 1, which vhas means'for engaging and displacing all pinsadvanced forwardly Iby pusher rods 36 so that such pins are deliveredinto gutters G.

The transverse sweep mechanism, designated generally S, selected forpurposes of illustration, consists of two suitably shaped coacting sweepblades 52 and 54, each of which is suspended from and secured to anendless chain S6 and 58, respectively. Chain 56, which runs on and isdriven by sprocket 60, also runs on an idler sprocket 62 (Fig. 2)rotatably supported on shaft 64 having its ends journaled in transversesweep frame 66 attached to `brackets 50 which are secured to the frontend of table 10. Driving sprocket 60 is rotatably supported by shaft 68,the ends of which are also journaled in sweep frame 66. A gear 70,preferably formed integrally with the hub of driving sprocket 60,engages an intermediate ygear 72 which is oscillated by a gear 74mounted on one end of a shaft 76 projecting from the housing of asuitable reversible gear reduction motor 78 mounted on the top portionof sweep -frame 66. Chain 58 runs on a driving sprocket 80 and on idlersprocket 82 (Fig. 2) rotatably supported on shaft 84 mounted in sweepframe 66. Driving sprocket 80 is rotatably supported on shaft 68 and itshub is provided with a gear 86, preferably formed integrally therewith,which is oscillated by a driving gear 88 mounted on shaft '76.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pins areremoved from the playing deck of bowling alley A and delivered intogutters G on continuously driven endless belts 90. Belts 90 are mountedon pulleys 92 supported on driving shaft 97 and driven shaft 99,respectively. Driving shaft 97 Vmay be driven from any suitable sourceof power by conventional means (not shown). The upper runs of belts 90are supported .by suitably mounted boards 94.

The pin removing apparatus shown in Figs. l and 2 operates as follows:AAfter a ball is rolled down alley A and has landed in pit P, a motor(not shown) is operated to rotate the drums which support cables 12 sothat ,table 10 descends and its rubber cushions 46 are brought intoengagement with the heads of any standing pins, thereby clamping suchpins in their respective on or off- During the clamping operation,immediately after standing pins have been clamped upon the alley, thebowler presses a switch which closes a circuit through motor 28,whereupon chains 32 are movedtby sprockets 30-andpusher rods-r 36.-moveefrom the broken :line positions shown Vin Fig. 1 `into the full Yline positions shownin the same figure, thereby bringing -pushers 38into engagement with any fallen pins which `are moved thereby fromthe`rear of alley A toward the 1 front thereof and'in position to'vbeengaged and conveyed bylsweep blades 52 and 54 which at the time are inback to back position at rest, as shown .in Fig.' 2. rAfter all pushercarrying rods 36 have passed beneath the bottom of table and have movedover the front end of table 10 to their starting positions shown inbroken lines. in Fig. 1motor 28 is shut 0E either byl an automatlc timeror manually'by a second button which breaks the circuit throughmotor 2S.

When pusherrods 36 come to r st as above indicated,

ranother button may be pushed by the operator or bowler which closesvacircuit through reversibleltransversesweep motor'78 causing blades 52and 54 to move outwardly from the center of `alley A toward I gutters G,thus sweeping all fallen pins which were moved by pushers 38 in front ofsweep blades 52 and 54. All pins delivered f ,into gutters G by blades52 and'541aregmoved by belts A90 into pit P where they are conveyed byconveyor 95 vto pin handling mechanism ,(not shown) which delivers themto the pin spotter. YIf `then1echa,nisrttV described herein is used inconnection with manual spottlng of .lpins,.conveyor 95 will not beprovided, andpins delivered into pit P will be readily available formanual, spotting by a pin boy.

After sweep blades SZiand v54 reachi the edge of their,respective'gutters,G,,motor 78 stops, -andwhen another buttonorsuitable automatic limit switch Vor timlng'device `(not shown) isoperated, a reversing-,circuitthrough;the

motor is closed, whereupon the, latter drives chains 56 land 58toreturn` blades 52gand, 54 to their rest position. The motor which lowerstable 10is then again operated either bymanual control or-bysuitableconventional l automatic `.Control meenam, raiseitable :10,andthe ,alley y is ready for the secondballtobe rolled by vthe bowler.

WhenV it is desired to remove all pins, Le; fallen and Astanding pins,after the rolling of the second ball of a lframe, table 10 is loweredYto the positionrshown in broken lines in Fig. 2. At thisV position,ydesignated I, standing Vpins -will not be clampedeby rubber cushions orstrips 46 so that as the result of the operations of pushers 38l Vandsweep blades 52 and 54, .all standjngpins, yas well as fallen pins ordeadwood, will be swept from the valley and delivered by belts 90 intopit P. The means for controlling the operationof the driving-meanswhichlowers table 10 maybe a control button which is pressed by theplayer to stop the operation of thedriving motor before table`10 hasbeen lowered toits pin clamping position v shown in full lines in Fig.2.

Figures 3 and 4 disclose a modied kform of ourinvention. The pinAremoving apparatus shown comprises a table or frame designatedgenerally100 which is raised `and lowered by cables 102 attached to4brackets 104 secured to table 100. Each bracket 104 Ais,V provided withtwo pairs of spaced rol1ers106 which roll on a vertical guide bar 108suitably mounted on a ykickbackfK of alley A.r Cables 102 are attachedto suitable drums (not (shown) yof a shaft (not shown) which isintermittently oscillated by a suitable source of power, such as a`revers- ,ible motor (not shown). The constructionand operation of thetable lowering and raising mechanism may be substantially the same `asthat describedhereinabove for `the form of invention shown in Figs. 1and 2.

Each gutter G is provided with anrendless continuously driven conveyorbelt 110 running on driving and driven pulleys 112, 113, respectively.Pulley 112Yis-driven in` knownmanner from a suitable source of vpower(not shown). The upper lap of each belt-.-110is suitably y supported bya support boardr114.

. Table or frame 100 carriesoneparr,of; sweep arms `116 'and 118; andanother pair of.sweep.arms11120randtlZZ.:4

:Arm i116 is .mounted ,on a -vertical .shaft V124supported in i asuitable .bearing :bracket .126 secured tothe topof table ,7100. Shaft124 is provided with a sprocket 128 on which runs a chain130 alsorunning on a sprocket 132 lixed to a vertical shaft 13.4;supported in asuitable bearing bracket on the top oftable 100. VSweep arm A118 ismountedion shaft-134. .Shaft y134 is also provided with a beveled gearyi138 whichmeshes with a beveled gear -140 secured to shaft "142 of asuitableY reversible gear reduction motor 144. As shown in Figs. 3and4,-motor 144 is mounted onbracket -146,s ecured to the top oftable100.

Sweep arm 120 :(Fig. ,4)ismounted'on vertical shaft .n 148'supported ina suitable bearing bracket .150 attached to the tops oftable 100. VShaft-148 is provided y,with a .scrocket :15.2 onwhich runs .a ychain 154ialso running on a sprocket 156 mounted onvertical shaft v15,8Asupported in avsuitable' bearing bracket onthe top of table100. Sweeparm HZ-is :attached to Asha-ft 158. ,Also mounted 4on -shaftg15S-fis abeveled gear-',160 meshing Awith a beveled gear `16,2,mounted on shaft-164,of reversible gear reduction fmotor 166 supported by asuitablebracket i vsecured to the vtopof table 100.

Asishown-inFigs. 3 and 4, sweep arms116, 118, 120 v Yand Y1,522 carry aplurality vof spaced downwardly Vproject- 1ng resilient rods168gwhich'are vsuspended from the bottom edges thereof. InAtheillustrated embodiment, rods 168` areformed-from.elongatedliexible.coil springs. VEach rod V168extendsdownwardly from its respective V sweep arm throughlan'arcuategslot formed in tablei;100 (see VFigeA). YEach rod 168 on itsfree end `carries a'exible pusher170 which extendslaterally outwardlyfrom the vaxisrofits .vrespectivesupportfrod `168. ln the for-mill-ustrated, it will be notedithatgtwo opposing-.pushersV 170 iare-interngered in order toprovidemaximum sweeping range. Pushers 170vare preferably made. of' resilient material vsuohas rubber or plasticl.intorder that they ,may yield Vin passing a standingclamped pin, but.also

,operate to movefallen pins and deadwoodfrom the alley .as theres'ultof', their movement when sweeping the alley of fallen pins or.sweepin-gall pins from the alley when no standing pins .are clamped.VThe under-surface of tab-le .100,is providedlwith a resilientclampingcushion snchas rubber cushionV plate V172 (Fig. 3) vin order to furnish-a resilient clamping .action with respect to standing pins when table.100 is in its lowermost or pin clampv alleyfA. :A suitable controlmeans,..such as. a button of a switch (not shown) isthenpressedby-thebowler which completes va circuit through 4motors 144and 166 which results. inv-thetniovement 'ofi theopposed `pairs of sweeptively,

arms 116, 118, `and V120 :and 122, :in opposite directionsiortowardsfthe" right andleft hand gutters G, respec- As the resltofthernovement of arms 116, 118, 120

i and i122, rods-168 suspended therefrom vand vprojecting throughtable100, move through arcs and'llexible lpushers 170, carriedfbythe rods,engage'fallen pins and sweep them over alley Aand between any pins whichmay be standing into-gutters Gwhere continuously driven con veyor belts110 travel them rearwardly into pit Pof alleyA'for further-handling V4byautomatic mechanism or for manualrespotting when a pin boy is spottingpins Von ralley/A. When rods 168A reach 'the points` adjacent ,ftheedges of gutters G, motors'1344 and* 166 stop, and `vthe operatororbowler than 'pushes another switch button l f AVto maken, reversingcircuiti. through :thesegmotors @which reach the edge of theirrespective gutter at approximately the same time.

As in the case of the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the movementof table 100 can be stopped at the elevation designated H, in whichposition no pins will be clamped by cushion plate 172 and hence all pinswhether standin-g or fallen will be swept by pushers 17u from alley Ainto gutters G. Y

A further modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5and 6 wherein means are provided for gripping and lifting pins, usuallydesignated as pins numbered 5, 8 and 9 in the customary ten pintriangular set up arrangement, prior to the operation of the sweepingmeans which sweeps deadwood or fallen pins from alley A after therolling of the first ball, and which may be operated to sweep not onlyfallen pins, but any standing pins after the rolling of the second ballin the event that it is desired to spot ten pins on alley A.

By lifting pins 5, 8 and 9 or any pin of this group of pins which mayremain standing after the rolling of the first ball of the iframe, thereis eliminated the need for sweeping or moving a heavy bulk of fallenpins from the rear to the front of alley A. This operation also preventsany possible entanglement of fallen pins with standing pins during thesweeping operation.

The mechanism disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a pin clamping table206 provided on its lower or bottom face with a resilient cushion plate202, such-as sponge rubber or like material. At each side of table 200and extending upwardly therefrom is a bracket 204 which arries a guideshoe 206 engaging and running in a vertical guide rail 268 mounted on akickback K. Attached to each guide shoe 206 is a cable 210, the otherend of which cab-le is secured to a drum (not shown) mounted on asuitable motor driven shaft (not shown) adapted to raise and lower table200. The rear portion of table 200, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided witha cut out section 212 in which is seated a pin pick-up table or frame214. Table 214 is supported for independent vertical movement relativeto table 200, by means of cables 216 which are secured at one end tobrackets 21S located at each side of table 214. The other ends of cables216 are secured t'o drums (not shown) on a shaft (not shown) suitablydriven by a motor (not shown). Brackets 218 are provided with guiderollers 220 engaging and running in vertical tracks 222 mounted on pinclamping table 200. The -bottom surface of table 2-14 is provided with aresilient cushion plate 224 similar to cushion plate 172 describedhereinabove.

Appropriate transverse slots are formed in pick-up table 214 and cushionplate 224 through which project downwardly three pairs of arms 226, eacharm supporting at its lower free end of substantially horizontal bowlingpin gripping bar 228. Each arm 226 is preferably formed integrally witha operating member 230 slidably supported in a suitable track 232 (Fig.6) formed by a groove or channel in pick-up table 214. The two operatingmembers 230 of each pair of gripper bar arms 226 are connected by meansof a pair of links 234 to a carriage or trolley 236 suspended by rollers238 and supported by a cross bar 240 suitably attached to an actuatingframe 242. A separate trolley 2.36 is provided for each pair of gripperbars 22.8. A

Actuating frame 242 is secured to the upper free ends of a plurality ofpiston rods 244 which extend from hydraillic -cylinders 246 mountedontable 214. Cylinders "246 are connected to ahydraulic control.. system(not.

shown) which may be similar in design, construction and operation tothat shown and described in Patent 2,634,979, issued April 14, 1953, toCharles E. Schon. Pick-up table 214, the pin gripper bars 228 and theiroperating mechanisms are generally the same in function, design andconstruction as those disclosed in -Patent 2,634,979, and therefore adetailed description of the same is omitted in the interest of brevity.

Operating in conjunction with clamping table or frame 2th) and pick-uptable 214, is a sweep mechanism L designed to sweep pins from the rearto the front of alley Y A, and a transverse sweep mechanism S adapted tosweep pins which have been delivered by mechanism L into the range ofoperation of sweep mechanism S into gutters G which are provided withsuitable continuously driven belt conveyors 2S@ operative to convey pinsinto the pit P of alley A for delivery to automatic pin handlingmechanism, or into position where a pin boy may be able to seize andspot pins on the alley.

The mechanism for sweeping pins from the rear to the front of the alleycomprises a suitable frame or truss shaped structure 252'which carries aplurality of spaced pusher bars 254 supported by a cross bar 256attached to a pair of carriages 258 arranged to travel in any suitablemanner along horizontal tracks 260 which form apart of a truss shapedstructure 252 which supports pin sweeping mechanism L and moves pusherbars 254 to and fro operative position relative to alley A.

Tracks 260 are secured at one end to a cross bar 262 and at their otherend to a cross rod 264. Pusher bars 254 are of varying heights and arearranged with increasing height from the outer pusher bars to the centerbar located in center position relative to the center of the alley. Thisarrangement of pusher bars creates a plow effect in sweeping andremoving fallen pins. Pusher bars 254 preferably are formed of ilatelastic bars, such as rubber or plastic, so that if and when a pusherbar should engage a standing pin, it will deect relative thereto andmove therepast but still engage a fallen pin and move or push it towardthe front of alley A Without exerting excessive and positive force upona standing clamped pin. Each pusher bar 254 adjacent its pin engagingfront end is provided with a suitably shaped shoe 266 in order to engagefallen pins and eliminate possible damage to theV alley.

Carriages 258 are provided with rollers 268 so that the carriages mayroll along tracks 260. The mechanism for moving the pusher bars 254carried by the carriages back and forth relative to tracks 269 aftereach ball has been thrown in the form illustrated comprises a cable 27)attached fto each end of each carriage 258. Each cable 270 passes over apulley 272 mounted at the front end of frame 252 thence over a guidepulley 274 and grooved drum 276 to pulley 273 at theopposite end of saidcarriage. Grooved drums 276 are fixed to each end of cross shaft 1280.Also secured to shaft 2S@ is a gear 282 (Fig. 5) which meshes with agear 284 journalled on shaft 286 held by a suitable bracket 288 on themain frame (not shown) of xthe machine. Integral with the hub of gear284 is `a sprocket l290 which is driven intermittently by meansV ofchain 292 back and forth in proper timed relation from a suitabledrivingsourcel (not shown) `of the machine.

rI'he mechanism for lifting the entire pusher bar frame or trussstructure 252-from and lowering the latter onto the alley may beconstructed and operated in the same or similar manner to Vthat setforth in Patterson Patent 2,313,183. VAs shown in Fig. 5 a rod 294connects frame 252 `to apair of arms 296 fixed to shaft 220. Y Each arm296 is connected by a suitable cable 29S to an oscillating drum (notshown) which through properly controlled driving means effects theraising and 'lowering of the frame 252 of sweep mechanism L. Frame 252,in addition to being connected to armsk 296, is also pivotally suspendedfrom shaft 230. r

- The ltransversesweep me'echanisrniS, illustrated Figs.

and 6, is similar .inconstruction and operation to 'that *disclosedin-Pigs. l and ZZ, and described heretofore.

- sweep' mechanism is carried by bracket' 300 'securedto'thefrontendvof-clampingtable 200 and consists of two f transversesweeper blades 302'and'304, each ofwhich is suspended from and securedto an endless chain '3,06 and `308, respectively. v'*.ihain'iii issupportedlbyanV idler :sprocket 310 and intermittently reciprocated bya'sprocket 312. "Chain 308l is supported byvan idler sprocket'314 andintermittently reciprocated bya sprocket'316. fThe ilatter-as w'ellwassprocket 312 are'loosely supported by Tv-shaft 3f18`supportedby a pairof suitable-bearingme'rnbers n 320 attached to vand held by the bracket300. Idler Avsprockets? '310 land' 314 are loosely supported -byvshafts* '1 1.v2 2an c l 324` respectively A'which are also supportedvby members 320.

The f hiib fof sprocket" 312 isf integral-"with gear r326yreversiblegear reduction motor 332 supported by and*r#mountedon-bracket 300. l Thehub of sprocket V316 is in- Jtegral withgear 334 whichfmeshes with arr-intermediate A-gear 336 which-=inturnis-driven by gear 433S. mounted 'j on f--shaft -330 of reversiblereduction gearvmotor--332r f Due" to their operating connections withvmotor 323; chains -'3ll6and-3(l8 will be drivenin opposite directions.

,-*The operation ofthe mechanism disclosed ingFigs. 5

and 6 is-asfollows: AWhenthe machine is'in startposition before a4 ballhas been delivered by the bowler, the

sweeper blades 5302 randr 504 -are backto backina centrall ipositioniwith-respectto the alley vandthe clampingftable Y1 ;200 aswellasfthepick-up tableg214 are-in 'theirupper- Amostposition abovethe'alleyr whileigthe pin removing i mechanism L isyin its upv/ard?vposition above the Ypit P. "After a` ball is delivered by the bowler,andhas landed Y A`inthe pit P,-the bowleroperatessuitable controlmechanism (not shown) to actuate the motonwhicnlowers Vcables v210andj2li6, whereupon clamping table 200 and pick-upY table 214 movedownwardly/ towards alley A, andboth tables with their respectivecushion or pressure plates engage thetops of pins' which remain standingand 'm l,clamp them firmly on the-alley. The gripper'bars 228 ,of thepick-up table A214 arethen set in motiongby means similar to `thosedescribed "in said Schon patent until said bars engage wtih the necks'ofthe numbers 5, ,8 and 9 pinsAV ,incase they are, or any of themis,still, standing. n The .operating mechanism (not shown) which isresponsible lforjliftipg table 21.4, is then .actuated by the bowler asby f, pressing `a jbutton of aY switch which closes a circuitQthrough-areyersible motor (not shown)` which rotates a i."shaf;t;(nots`hown) supporting drums .(-not shown)V to which cables'216' are attached. i Pick-up table '214 then moves ,upwandly with allorany ofthe pins of the groupnumbers 15,'8fa11f9, and dwellsin aposition such that 'the bottoms :After pusherbars have moved auffallenypins from y the .;rearto'the frontofalley A, and deliveredxthem infrontQlof itransverse sweepersblades13n02` and 304, power is sup- -ypliedeithenmanuallyr,automatically to .motorf332, which Cau'sesblades 302,and V304 to move outwardly ory ',transverselylof alleyLA, whereby allfallen pins in 'front ofj themhare' delivered .into gutters'Y G. andonto the` two continuously -running. endless conveyor belts "250.whichY,o arrythe,pins received thereon; into pit Pof alley A where jlltheyare'delivered .tothe pin handling mechanism (not'. I shown)`- ofabowlingpin spotting'machineor made available to a pin -boy for spotting.Vv

*After the-transverse sweeper blades 302V and1304-have J reached theedgesof their respective gutters fG, motor --"-332,leither manuallybylmeans of abutton of. 'a: switch in'-` .epa/4,819

f-the-motor fcircuitbr. -autornaticallyifby zlimit switches,l is

I reversed. `This"operation effects the return of-bladesf302,

:T304 ytofrtheir 'central back to backrest position. After pusherbars'254 of' thepin removing mechanism have returned totheirrearmostorstanting position, frame 252 Yis lifted up Vand out ofthe way'abovepit -P :while .the pick-up table descends `again and places pins numbers5, 8 and 9 or any ofzthernv which'were lifted back on 'falleyf A in 'theexact position from whichthey..were removed. "Both YtablesV 200 vandi214 are '.thenfrnoved --to a f Adwell positionclear o'ffall standingpins, andthemachine iis? ready Vfor-Sanother ball. yto be'` delivered.The upward moving operationof the .tables '72,00 and 214 is ieifected byany suitable means, as bymanually! operated switch but- ;tons which whenpressed make circuits through Ytherev, ffspectivemotors twhich driveJthet drumsj-towhichcables 1210V and '.216 .are attached. i

j In'the modification disclosed-in 5 andL,l it lmay .notlibe' desiredvor necessary to operate pin pick-up I,table T214 atall times. 1 Oneinstance lwouldbe-w-hen pinsnum- :bers 5," 8an`d' 9 have been knockeddown. Underasuch conditions, thewsweepingof fallen pins is accomplishedsolely byf meansof pusher bars 254 which are operated inthe-'manner`above described.

The mechanism described hereinabove makes `possible arapid and effectiveremoval of deadwood or Ifallenpins T frorn ra .bowling 'alley after theirst ball fof a frame is l-rolled and alsolmakes' possible a similarrapid .removal of all pins fallenvorstandingfrom abowlinglalley-whenyever this is desired-'in the course 'of playing the game.

'T VWhat .we claimis:

Vl. :Mechanism :for removing pinsfarrlang'ed in'generally'triangular.playing congurationonthe playing bed'secfltiono'f a'lbowlingalley comprising a pin handlingfdevice movable into engagement'l withpins remainingstanding .fatter a ball has been thrown, `means on saiddevice for Y'clampingsaid-standing pins uprighton the pin supportingzone of said alle ybed in their respectiveY on or off-spot fpositions,.means operative while said pins farei clamped 40.

for moving. all fallen pins along saidlplayingbed'towards the 4front ofsaid alley fordelivery'intothe gutters of said alley 'whereby -saidfallen pins aremoved from ythe base Vof-said triangular playingconfiguration toward the apex "thereof toprovide `said pins with asubstantially greater iunobstructed path of Vtravel from-.-adja centsaid clamped pin'sto a point of removal from said playing bed 'of'.said

alley, and-means-operative upon pins moved toward the Afrontof saidalley vto deliver'them from said playing bed for fdelivering pinsreceived thereon into the plnof said bofk said alley into` said gutters.

2. The invention defined in claim l wherein 'said gutters are providedwith conveying means forfconveyingpins :'delivered'into said' guttersintotherpi't of saidalley.

' 3."'The invention defined inclaim Al wherein pins vare `moved by saidsecond named means to adelivery station Y rin front ofsaid zone, andwherein said means operative to vdeliver said pins intoi saidguttersincludes transversely 'movable conveying means operative to movepinsfrom Ysaid zone into said gut-ters of lsaid alley.

4.' The-invention defined in claim 3 wherein said gutters are provided"with continuously movable conveying -belts alley. f

5. A-pin sweeping apparatus -forjusewith a bowling alley .having `a'pinsupporting bed section comprising a table adapted to be moved to andfrom a position aboveA @the pin-supporting 4bedof` said `alley intopositionfto clampand hold vstanding pins in their respectiveon andoff-spot' Vpositions on said bowling Aalley bed after the rollingof aball, a plurality of`pin removing fpushers movement alongsaidpmnsupporting -bedsectionfrom y mountedon said table, meansmounting' said pushers'for the rear toward the front thereof, means Vformoving said rpushersffrom the rear toward the front of said pinsuporting bed section -to engage. and travel fallengpins'to- 'awardsthe=front Jofsaid` pin.- supporting bed sectioneand clear of any clampedstanding pins, drive means for said last-named means, an auxiliary pinconveying mechanism mounted on said table, said mechanism comprisingtransversely moving conveying elements, and means for moving saidelements away from each other to convey pins delivered into the range ofoperation of said elements by said pushers into the gutters of saidbowling alley for delivery into the pit of said alley.

6. In a pin clearing apparatus for use with a bowling alley to removepins from the playing bed of a bowling alley, a table `adapted to bemoved to and from a position above the pin supporting bed of said alleyinto position for clamping standing pins on said bowling alley bed afterthe rolling of a ball, a plurality of laterally spaced endless conveyorscarried by said table, a plurality of longitudinally spaced pin removingpushers mounted on each of said conveyors, means mounting said conveyorson said table for movement of said pushers `along said pin supportingbed from the rear toward the front thereof, means for travelling saidconveyors from. the rear toward the front of said playing bed to movesaid pin removing pushers from Ithe rear toward the front thereof andinto engagement with pins to be removed from said alley and to conveysaid pins forwardly up said alley to the front of said pin supportingbed 4and clear of any clamped supporting pins, drive means for said lastnamed means, and means operative upon pins moved toward the front ofsaid pin supporting bed to deliver them from said bed into the guttersof said'bowling alley.

7. The invention as dened in claim 1 wherein said means for movingfallen pins toward the front of said alley and said delivery meansinclude mechanism .operative while said pins are clamped for engagingand moving all 4fallen pins in arcuate paths toward the front of saidalley and into the gutters of said alley.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said Y mechanism comprisesopposed sets of sweep arms, spaced resilient rods depending from saidarms through slots in said table, flexible pushers carriedby said arms,and means for operating said arms to move said pushers into engagementwith pins to be swept from said alley.

9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said mechanism comprisesopposed sets of arms'depending pushers carried by said arms, and meansfor moving said arms through arcuate paths of travel to engage saidpushers with pins to be removed from said alley and deposi-t said pinsin the gutters of said alley.

l0. The invention delined in claim 9, wherein said gutters are providedwith continuously movable conveying belts for delivering pins receivedthereon into the pit of said alley.

11. The invention defined in clairn7 wherein said pin handling device isprovided with a plurality of slots and said mechanism includes aplurality of sweep arms, means mounting said sweep arms for movement inopposite directions from and to each other, a plurality of dependinglrods carried on each of said sweep arms, a ilexible pin pusher mountedon each of said rods, means for moving said `arms away from each otherto move unwanted pins ot said lalley bed into the gutters of said alleyand means for delivering pins deposited by said pushers in said guttersinto the pit of said alley.

l2; The invention `defined in claim l including a carriage associatedwith said pin handling device, a plurality of spaced pusher members eachhaving one end connected to said carriage, and means for moving saidcarriage relative to said table to travel said members forwardly beneathsaid table into engagement with fallen pins, whereby Vin response to themovement of said members said fallen pins are transported from beneathsaid table and said alley bed section to a point of delivery in front ofsaid bed section.

elements forV moving pins fromsaid point of .deliveryr gripping units togrip and hold any of said last-named` pins standing during the liftingmovement of said auxiliary table and the operation of said spaced pushermemy of said pin supporting bed to remove them from said bed bers, andmeans for moving said auxiliary table to return pins lifted thereby totheir respective on and off-spot positions.

l5. In' a pin clearing apparatus for use in removing unwanted pins fromthe playing bed of a bowling alley, a `table adapted to be moved to andfrom a position above the pin supporting bed of said alley into positionfor clamping standing pins on said bowling alley bed after the rollingof a ball, a plurality of sets of laterally spaced pin removing pushersmounted on said table including movable supports for said pushers, meansfor moving said supports from the rear of said playing bed toward thefront thereof to move said pushers between clamped standing pins andpush Vfallen pins to the front of said pin supporting `bed clear of saidclamped standing pins and means operative upon pins moved toward thefront of said bowling alley.

16. A pin sweeping apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pinsupporting bed section comprising a table adapted to be moved to andfrom a position above the pin supporting bed of said alley into position`to clamp "andhold standing pins in their respective on and Off spotpositions onV said bowling alley bed after the rolling of a ball, aplurality of pin removing pushers, means mounting said pushers formovement along said pin supporting bed section from the rear toward thefront thereof, means for moving said pushers from the rear toward thefront of said pin supporting bed section to engage and travel fallenpins towards the front of said pin supporting bed and clear of anyclamped standing pins, driving means for said last named means and meansoperative upon pins moved toward the front of said pin supporting bed todeliver them from said bed into the gutters of said bowling alley.

17. In a pin clearing apparatus for use with a bowling alley to removepins from the playing bed of a bowling alley, a table adapted to bemoved to and from a position above the position of a pin supportingalley into position for clamping standing pins on said bowling alley bedafter the rolling of a ball, a plurality of laterally spaced endlessconveyors, a plurality of longitudinally spaced pin removing pushersmounted on each of said conveyors, means mounting said conveyors on saidtable for movement of said pushers along said pin supporting bed fromthe rear to the front thereof, means for travelling said conveyors fromthe rear toward the front of said playing bed to move said pin removingpushers from the rear toward the front thereof and into engagement withpins to be removed from said alley and to convey said pins forwardly upsaid alley to the front of said pin supporting bed and clear of anyclamped standing pins, an auxiliary pin conveying mechanism mounted onsaid table, said mechanism comprising transversely movable conveyingelements and means for moving said elements away from each other toconvey pins travelled into the gutters of saidv bowling alley fordelivery into the pit of said alley.

18. In a pin clearing apparatus for use in removing pins from theplayingbed of a bowling alley, a table adapted to be moved to and from aposition above the pin supporting bed of said alley into position forclamping said pins onto said bowling alley bed after the rolling o faball, a plurality of laterally spaced endless conveyors,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced pin removing vflexibley pushersmountedr on each of said conveyors, means mounting said conveyors onsaid table for movement `of said pushers `along said pin supporting bedfrom the rear toward the front thereof, means for travelling saidconveyors from the rear toward the front of 'said playing bed to movesaid pushers into engagement with .pins to Vbe 20. In a bowling pinspotting machine having mechanism for positioning bowling pins ingenerally triangular standing playing configuration on theplaying bed ofa bowling alley, mechanism for removing pins vfrom the playing bed ofsaid alley, said alley having a pitadjacent said bed comprising a pinhandling device movable into engagement with pins remaining standing onthe playing bed of a bowling alley after a ball has been j thrown, meanson said device for clamping said standing 1-9. In a pin clearingapparatus for use in removing unwanted pins from the playing bed of abowling alley, a table adapted to be moved to and from a position abovethe pin supporting bed of said `alley into position for clamping-standing pins on said bowling alley bed after the rolling of a ball, aplurality of laterally spaced endless conveyors, a plurality of spacedresilient yrods iixed to said conveyors, a exible pin removing pushermounted on each of said rods, means mounting said 'conveyors on saidtable for movement of said' pushers along said pin supporting bed fromthe rear to the front thereof,`

'means for moving said conveyors from the rear toward the front of saidplaying bed to travel said pin-removing pushers into engagement withpins rto be `removed from said alley and to convey said'pins forwardlyYup Y said alley to the front of saidvpin supporting bed clear of anyclamped standing pins, drive means for saidlastsoiAV named means, anauxlliary pin conveying mechanismy A, mounted on said table, saidmechanism comprising transversely movable conveying elements and meansfor .move ing said elements away from each other tol convey pinsdelivered into the range of `operation of said elements .by said pushersinto thel gutters oflsaid bowling 'alley for delivery into the pit ofsaid alley,

pins upright on said pin supporting bed of said alley in ytheirrespective on or oi spot positions, means operative while said pins areclamped by said device on said alley bed for sweeping all fallen pins ina generally forward direction away from the pit of said bowling alleywherebyrsaid fallen pins are travelled from vthe base of said triangularconguration adjacent said pit toward the apex of said triangularconiiguration remote from said pit to provide said fallen pins with asubstantially wider unobstructed path of travel adjacent said clampedpins to a point of removal from said playing bed of said alley and meanspositioned to receive pins delivered thereto by said last-named meansVand deliver them into the pit of said alley.

References Cited in the le of thispatent yUNITED STATES PATENTS1,292,738v Estabrook ian. 2s, 1919 v .1,335,638 Barrett l Mar; 30, 1920Y 1,806,274 williams 'May 19, 1931 v2,316,185 Patterson ca T; Apr.ll3,

A 2,361,233 Parra etai oct. 24,

2,411,348i Turner Nov. 19, 1946,.

Hutzelman g.; l 1an. 22, 1952 v

